🌌 Northern lights after work: night photography without disruptions

🎯 Who is it for and what is the goal

For those who work during the day and go out in the evening to chase the aurora — without night marathons and ruined mornings. Below is the working mode, principles for choosing quick spots 20–40 minutes from the city (Tromsø/Alta/Lofoten), minimum equipment and winter road rules.

⏰ ‘Work during the day — aurora at night’ mode

🕐 Window and return

• Observation window: guideline 21:00–02:00.
• Short nap: 30–40 minutes around 19:00.
• Return: plan to finish by 02:30 to maintain your morning rhythm.

⚡ Energy and the next day

• Caffeine — until 18:00, then only warm tea.
• Set a meeting without a video camera/a ‘quiet’ focus slot for the morning.
• If you had a ‘night’ outing, move difficult tasks to the afternoon window.

📍 Quick locations 20–40 minutes from the city (overview)

🌑 Selection criteria (Tromsø/Alta/Lofoten)

• Dark sky: away from streetlights and water reflections in the harbour.
• Safe parking: only official parking spaces/car parks, not on the roadside.
• Clear horizon to the north/northeast.
• Plan B nearby: an alternative spot within ±10 minutes by car.

Typical locations: small beaches/piers in bays, panoramic pockets on the road along the fjord, bridges with sidewalks and railings (for tripods). Don't stray too far from the city: in bad weather, it's best to make short trips between 2–3 nearby locations.

☁️ Forecasts and cloud cover

How to read the ‘weather for the aurora’

• Clouds are more important than the index. When there is low cloud cover and gaps, weak activity is also visible.
• Check the hourly cloud cover, wind and visibility; compare two sources.
• Indices/alerts are a guide, not a guarantee: catch the ‘windows’ between clouds and keep a spare shore nearby.

🗺️ Mini-algorithm

1. High/low cloud maps.
2. Wind near the coastline (gusts).
3. Precipitation and visibility ±3 hours from departure.
4. Decide whether to go or not 60–90 minutes before departure.

🎒 Night photographer's go-bag

📸 Minimum equipment

• Tripod (stable, with a hook for weighting).
• Headlamp with red light + reflectors/vest.
• Liner gloves for warm mittens; hand warmers/batteries.
• Power bank, spare batteries (keep warm), microfibre for lenses.
• Thermos + quick snack, offline maps.
• Shoes with microspikes/grips for icy conditions.

⚙️ Camera start-up settings (cheat sheet)

• 14–24 mm lens, f/2–f/2.8.
• ISO 800–3200, shutter speed 2–10 s (the more active the aurora, the shorter the shutter speed).
• Manual focus on a star (via Live View, 10× magnification).
• White balance 3500–4000 K (as a starting point).
• Timer 2 s or remote control, stabilisation on a tripod — off.

🚗 Roads and safety

🛣️ On the route

• Only legal parking spaces/pockets. Do not park your car with the front facing the road.
• Ice/snow: take small steps, use crampons, a torch/vest.
• Do not approach the water's edge during surf/strong winds.
• Share your departure plan with someone in town; keep your phone charged and warm.

🔦 At the location

• Do not shine white light in other people's eyes; use red light for adjustments.
• Keep an eye on your tripod in windy conditions; weigh it down with your backpack.
• Do not enter private property or block driveways/gates.

🏃‍♂️ Quick route ‘after work’

1. 18:30 — light dinner, thermos, 30–40 minutes of sleep.
2. 20:30 — check cloud cover/wind, select 2 nearby locations + 1 backup.
3. 21:00 — departure; first — ‘against the wind’, return — ‘with the wind’.
4. 23:30–01:30 — shooting in series, short trips between points.
5. ≤02:30 — home, warm shower, ‘soft start’ alarm clock.

✅ Aurora Nomad Checklist

• Tripod, headlamp (red mode), reflectors/vest
• Gloves, hand warmers, spare batteries in a warm pocket
• Membrane, warm hat/buff, waterproof shoes with spikes
• Thermos, snacks, offline maps, plan A/B
• Parking only in pockets, not at the edge of the road